duncan



Aug. 23, 1955 A. w. DUNCAN SCRAPER CHAIN CONVEYOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 9, 1950 lnvenlo? 40604111 64 Aug. 23, 1955 A. w. DUNCAN SCRAPER CHAIN CONVEYOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 9. 1950 P- In ventor 44/ 0.: l KDuMcAM trough section 101 of simple rectangular form United States Patent SCRAPER CHAIN CONVEYOR Angus Wellesley Duncan,

Worcester, England, assignor to The Mining Engineering Company Limited, Worcester, England Original No. 2,633,230, dated March 31, 1953, Serial No. 194,768, November 9, 1950. Application for reissue September 22, 1953, Serial No. 381,768

14 Claims. (Cl. 198-204) This invention relates to scraper chain conveyor structures of the type used for the transport of coal and other minerals at the working face underground.

It is an object of the present invention to provide scraper chain conveyor structures having separable upper and lower pan sections with means for readily connecting adjacent sections together.

According to the invention, from one aspect, a scraper chain conveyor structure having separable upper and lower pan sections is provided with readily releasable, axially movable, locking members which both secure the upper to the lower pan sections and also hold adjacent lower pan sections in substantial alignment with one another.

From another aspect, the invention provides scraper chain conveyor structures in which locking members in the form of stepped keys are movable axially to release upper pan sections from lower pan sections and the lower pan sections from each other for removal of any one section from between adjacent sections.

From yet another aspect the invention provides improved connecting means for the interconnection of scraper chain conveyor structures having separable top and bottom pan sections comprised by axially movable stepped keys having portions of reduced cross-section and slidable in housings to lock or release lugs projecting from adjacent longitudinally aligned pans.

The above and other parts of the invention are embodied in forms of scraper chain conveyor structures and connecting means therefor which will now be described in some detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 .is a transverse vertical section through the connection of two adjacent trapped scraper chain conveyor sections.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line Il--Il of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line III-III of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of adjacent untrapped scraper chain conveyor sections and their connecting means in locked position,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the connecting means shown in Fig. 4 with the top pans of the sections removed,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a top pan tilted for removal,

Fig. 7 is a half end view in the direction of the arrows VII-VII of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a different form of adjacent trapped scraper chain conveyor sections having removable face side plates on the top pans,

Fig. 9 is a part section on the line lX-I X of Fig. 8.

The structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a lower and an upper trough section made up from two members 102 and 103. The member 102 is of trough form having a and coupled up.

short vertical and outwardly flared side portion 102a and a horizontal portion extending across the top of the lower trough 101 and terminating in a short upturned vertical flange 1021). A short horizontal flange 104 extends inwardly from the side members to enclose and trap one of the side chains of the scraper chain. The other member 103 is similar in form to the side portion 102a of the first member 102 and also has a short horizontal flange 105 projecting inwardly to trap the other side chain of the scraper chain.

It will be understood that, when assembled together, complete trough with outwardly flared sides is formed.

The ends of the upper and lower trough sections are arranged in any convenient manner to fit into each other so that a continuous smooth path is provided for both runs of the scraper chain.

On either side of the one end of the lower trough section angle cleats 106 have ring portions 106a that carry tubular members 107 which project through clearance holes in similar ring portions 108a of angle cleats 108 on the end of the mating trough section. Slots 109 are cut in the tube 107 on the side facing the trough so arranged that pockets are formed between the tube and the angle cleats 106 and 108 to receive vertically projecting lugs 110 fixed to the upper trough members 102 and 103. It will be understood that the insertion of the lugs 110 in the slots 109 at the outer ends of the tubular members forces the angle cleats 106 and 108 and thus the trough sections 101 together and locks them. The lugs in the slots at the inner ends of the tubes only support and locate the upper trough assembly.

Passing through each tubular member 107 is a locking bar 111 slightly longer than the tube and having end portions of greater diameter than the bore of the tube so that it is captive but has limited axial freedom of movement relative to the tube. In one extreme position turned down portions 111a of the locking bar are opposite the slots in the tube and in the other extreme position full diameter portions 111b of the locking bar move into the slot positions and thus into grooves 112 formed in the lugs attached to the upper trough assembly.

it will be understood that the locking bar is moved to the open" position when the lugs are to be inserted in the slots and then moved over into the locked position for running to prevent any lifting of the scraper chain from lifting the upper trough assembly. out of position.

The scraper chain comprises two side chains of any convenient type having scraper bars fixed between them at intervals.

To assemble the conveyor the lower troughs 101 are laid in position with the angle cleats 106, 108, abutting an. the tubular members 107 acting as dowels to assure approximate vertical alignment. The lower strand of scraper chain 114 is laid in position in the lower troughs The locking bar members 111 along one side are moved into the open position and the main member 102 of the upper trough sections fitted by dropping the lugs 110 into the slots 109 formed between the tubular members 107 and their associated angle cleats. The locking bar members are then moved over by hand or hammer into the locked position. The upper strand of scraper chain 114 is then laid in the upper trough, laterally slightly out of line, coupled up and slid sideways into its working position. The other parts 103 of the upper trough sections are then fitted and the associated locking bars moved over into locked position.

Dismantling is simply a reversal of the assembly process.

It will be understood that the scraper chain cannot lift out of its working position within the structure even when the conveyor is laid in a hollow, yet dismantling is sample and rapid and is accomplished without tools other than a hammer.

said channel-like pockets, whereby said side members may be removed to expose the conveyor chains.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said side members overlie the edges of said bottom members and carry said lugs, whereby said side members removably retain said bottom members in position over said lower pan sections.

12. In a scraper chain conveyor having separable upper and lower pan sections, the upper pan sections each including a bottom member to be mounted over the lower pan section and side members overlying the side edges of said bottom member, and locking means including lock elements on each adjacent pair of sections and cooperative to releasably secure said side members to said lower pan sections and to secure said pairs of sections together, the improvement comprising at least one of said side members being separate from and removably mounted on said bottom member.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said side members have inwardly extending flanges overlying and spaced from said bottom member to cooperatively form channel-like pockets for trapping the conveyor chains.

14. In a scraper chain conveyor having separable upper References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,863 Hatt et a1. Sept. 20, 1932 1,917,134 Levin July 4, 1933 2,491,405 Wood Dec. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,221 Austria Apr. 10, 1928 405,021 Great Britain Ian. 29, 1934 635,175 Germany Sept. 11, 1936 

